Southampton City Reflections

City Reflections: Illuminating Southampton's Stories

What's On in Hampshire

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Hampshire is ready to welcome you for an unforgettable year of culture, coast and great days out. Whether you love historic cities, family‑friendly attractions or beautiful countryside, you’ll find plenty to enjoy across the county in every season.

2026 is packed with exciting moments. In Portsmouth, the city celebrates its 100th anniversary with a fun and colourful summer of lion sculptures dotted across streets and seafronts  — perfect for families, art lovers and anyone looking for a fresh way to explore. Winchester brings history to life with a stunning exhibition of Old Master prints at Winchester College’s Treasury, offering a unique chance to see remarkable works up close. Southampton’s much‑loved City Art Gallery reopens its doors with inspiring new displays, making it a must‑visit for culture‑seekers. And at Sir Harold Hillier Gardens, the 25th anniversary of the beautiful Hydrangea Walk brings vibrant mid‑ to late‑summer colour to woodland paths lined with mature camellias, flourishing hydrangeas and elegant viburnums.

From scenic coastline and vibrant events to cosy villages, walking trails and great places to eat, Hampshire is the ideal spot for a short break or longer escape. Start planning your 2026 adventure today — your Hampshire experience is waiting.

What's on in Hampshire this weekend?

To find out what's on in Hampshire today or this weekend, explore our featured list below or use the 'what's on search box' above to narrow down your required date. Families on a budget can look out for the many free events (F) taking place, you'll also find plenty of fun activities for kids to do whether it's during the holidays or on a weekend break. 

Gin Cocktail Masterclass at Bombay Sapphire Distillery

Staying overnight?

If you're travelling from outside the area for an event in Hampshire, there are numerous hotels and other accommodation options to suit your needs.

>>> Search & Book Hampshire Accommodation

Hampshire events near me

The guide below shows our calendar of events in Hampshire. Whether you're looking for What's on this weekend or further ahead, whether you're local or visiting the area for the first time, find what's happening near you by clicking the 'Map View' button. Some of the events below are on the Isle of Wight, as it's easy to hop over on the hovercraft or ferry from Portsmouth or Lymington to the island.

Top Events in Hampshire

Grab your calendar and start planning your next visit to Hampshire, here our top picks for events happening in the county. The guide below shows our calendar of events in Hampshire and the Isle of Wight.

Inspiration

  1. BBC Gardeners' World Spring Fair
    1. 1 May 20263 May 2026
  2. Winchester Books Festival 2026
    Winchester is a city steeped in history and with…
    1. 17 Apr 202619 Apr 2026

Number of results:

Number of results: 148

, currently showing 1 to 20.

  1. Lymington Seafood Festival

    Type

    Type:

    Festival

    Lymington

    Heading into its 10th year the Lymington Seafood Festival is the south coasts ‘must visit’ boutique food festival.

    Taking place on Friday 10th – Sunday 12th July it is crammed with over 100 different seafood dishes, a chef’s stage hosting the…

    Dates

    From:
    10 July 2026to12 July 2026
  2. Simply Smart

    Type

    Type:

    Run / Rally

    New Forest

    We are delighted to announce the return of Simply Smart on Sunday 8 November 2026.

    All Smart owners are invited to drive into Beaulieu to park up in the museum grounds, for a day out that owners and enthusiasts will enjoy. The event is set to…

    Dates

    From:
    8 Nov 2026Open 10:00 - 17:00
  3. Owls by Moonlight

    Type

    Type:

    Outdoor Event / Activities

    Sarson Lane, Weyhill

    This spring, venture out into the night with the beautiful owls at the Hawk Conservancy Trust. Experience the mystical owls' graceful, silent flights in and out of the darkness in two enthralling flying displays.
    Before the flying displays, there…

    Dates

    From:
    21 Feb 2026Open 17:30 - 20:30
    From:
    28 Feb 2026Open 17:30 - 20:30
    From:
    7 Mar 2026Open 17:30 - 20:30
    From:
    14 Mar 2026Open 17:30 - 20:30
    From:
    21 Mar 2026Open 17:30 - 20:30
  4. Outdoor Theatre: The Great Gatsby

    Type

    Type:

    Performing Arts

    New Forest

    This Is My Theatre presents The Great Gatsby on Thursday 13 August 2026.

    Step into the roaring 1920s, where the champagne flows, the jazz trumpet blows, and the American Dream gleams with irresistible allure. This electrifying stage adaptation of F…

    Dates

    From:
    13 Aug 2026Open 18:30 - 20:00
  5. Dürer to Goya: Old Master Prints at Winchester College

    Type

    Type:

    Exhibition

    Winchester

    This free exhibition in Winchester College's Treasury museum draws on the College’s collection of Old Master prints and has been curated by a group of pupils in their final year at Winchester. It includes prints of many different types, by artists…

    Dates

    From:
    8 Jan 2026to14 Apr 2026
  6. Egg-citing Easter Adventure

    Type

    Type:

    Childrens Events

    Farnham

    Hop to Birdworld this Easter for an egg-citing hunt! Explore the Park, discover hidden eggs, and collect letters at each stop to spell a secret word. Solve the puzzle and claim a delicious chocolate treat.

    Dates

    From:
    28 Mar 2026to12 Apr 2026
  7. Swedish Takeover

    Type

    Type:

    Run / Rally

    New Forest

    We are delighted to announce the return of Swedish Takeover on Saturday 4 July 2026.

    Volvo Surrey, Sussex and Hampshire invite all Swedish vehicle owners and enthusiasts to join them for their annual Swedish Takeover at Beaulieu.

    Dates

    From:
    4 July 2026Open 10:00 - 16:00
  8. Isle of Wight Festival of Running

    Type

    Type:

    Sporting Events

    Freshwater

    Explore our island through running Dramatic cliffs, beautiful coves, a stately home, a world famous pop festival site… the Isle of Wight Festival of Running boasts an unparalleled location!

    Full programme of running events The Isle of Wight…

    Dates

    From:
    31 May 2026to7 June 2026
  9. K1 Robotics & VR Adventure at Portsmouth Historic Dockyard

    Type

    Type:

    Childrens Events

    Portsmouth

    Take control of the K1 robot and race against the clock to topple towers, complete challenges, and claim a spot on the leaderboard! Then dive into the latest VR games for an immersive tech adventure you won't forget.

    Get ready for a high-energy…

    Dates

    From:
    16 Feb 2026Open 11:00 - 16:00
    From:
    17 Feb 2026Open 11:00 - 16:00
  10. Curious About Southampton

    Type

    Type:

    Walking

    Town Quay, Southampton

    Have fun (re-)discovering Southampton, spotting things you've never noticed before, with two quirky treasure hunt style heritage walks - a safe, fun and affordable way to get some fresh air, whilst discovering more about this fascinating and…

    Dates

    From:
    3 May 2025to3 May 2026
  11. Spring Autojumble

    Type

    Type:

    Special Events

    New Forest

    The Spring Autojumble is back on 16 – 17 May 2026. Perfect for hunting down that hard-to-find part, discovering unique vintage clothing and collectibles, or just enjoying a great motoring-inspired day out!

    Join the automotive treasure hunt as the…

    Dates

    From:
    16 May 2026to17 May 2026Open 09:30 - 17:00
  12. February half term outdoor adventure at Go Ape Southampton

    Type

    Type:

    Outdoor Event / Activities

    West End, Southampton

    Looking for things to do this February half term in Southampton? Escape the ordinary and head to Go Ape, set in the heart of Itchen Valley Country Park, for an unforgettable outdoor adventure.
    Perfect for families, friends, and thrill seekers, Go…

    Dates

    From:
    14 Feb 2026to22 Feb 2026Open 10:00 - 14:30
  13. The New Forest and Hampshire County Show 2026

    Type

    Type:

    Show / Display

    Brockenhurst

    The New Forest and Hampshire County Show is an annual agricultural show held for three days at the end of July at New Park, Brockenhurst in Hampshire.

    Dates

    From:
    28 July 2026to30 July 2026
  14. Go Ape Alice Holt February Half Term

    Type

    Type:

    Outdoor Event / Activities

    Bucks Horn Oak, Farnham

    Looking for things to do this February half term? Escape the ordinary and head to Go Ape Alice Holt, set in the heart of Surrey, near Farnham and Guildford, for an unforgettable outdoor adventure.

    Perfect for families, friends, and thrill seekers,…

    Dates

    From:
    14 Feb 2026to22 Feb 2026Open 10:00 - 14:00
  15. Simply Italian

    Type

    Type:

    Run / Rally

    New Forest

    Simply Italian, sponsored by Hendy Fiat, will return on Sunday 27 September 2026.

    All Italian car owners are invited to drive into Beaulieu and park up within the museum complex for a superb day out for both owners and enthusiasts.

    Dates

    From:
    27 Sept 2026Open 10:00 - 17:00
  16. Winchester Books Festival 2026

    Type

    Type:

    Festival

    Winchester

    Winchester is a city steeped in history and with strong literary connections.

    Dates

    From:
    17 Apr 2026to19 Apr 2026
  17. Cowes Fringe

    Type

    Type:

    Festival

    Cowes

    Cowes Fringe is a vibrant celebration of music, theatre, and comedy that lights up the town of Cowes on the Isle of Wight annually in May. The festival fills local venues with an electrifying mix of performances, showcasing both local and national…

    Dates

    From:
    22 May 2026to24 May 2026Open 17:00 - 23:00
  18. Simply Mercedes

    Type

    Type:

    Run / Rally

    New Forest

    We are delighted to announce the return of Simply Mercedes on Sunday 9 August 2026.

    All Mercedes-Benz owners are invited to drive into Beaulieu and park up in the museum grounds for a superb day out for owners and enthusiasts.

    Dates

    From:
    9 Aug 2026Open 10:00 - 17:00
  19. Mother’s Day Bubble Afternoon Tea & Sunday Roast

    Type

    Type:

    Food

    Oakley, Basingstoke

    This Mother's Day, you can sit back and relax at Oakley Hall letting our family take care of yours. Whether you're looking to enjoy a sumptuous Afternoon Tea or wanting a delicious three course meal, there's something for all to enjoy this March!

    Dates

    From:
    14 Mar 2026
    From:
    15 Mar 2026
  20. City Reflections: Illuminating Southampton's Stories

    Type

    Type:

    Arts

    Southampton

    This February, step into the glow of City Reflections: Illuminating Southampton’s Stories - a dazzling new trail of light, history and storytelling across the heart of Southampton.

    For four magical nights, six of the city’s most iconic heritage…

    Dates

    From:
    18 Feb 2026Open 18:00 - 20:00
    From:
    19 Feb 2026Open 18:00 - 20:00
    From:
    20 Feb 2026Open 18:00 - 20:00
    From:
    21 Feb 2026Open 18:00 - 20:00